Our Leshan day trip from Chengdu will begin with the pick-up at your hotel. Then, a two-hour private car ride will take you to the Leshan Giant Buddha scenic area, situated on Lingyun Mountain, rising beside the Min River. Upon arrival, follow your guide to walk up the mountain, where you can get a close look at the Leshan Giant Buddha’s head and down to the Buddha’s foot along the plank road, taking nearly half an hour. You’ll gain a profound understanding of why there is a saying that “Buddha is a mountain, and the mountain is a Buddha,” referring to the world’s largest Buddha statue, which stands 71 meters (233 feet) tall.

► How to capture creative pictures with Leshan Giant Buddha

a. You can shoot from a forced perspective to make the Buddha appear to be wearing sunglasses, a wireless headphone, or sipping a beverage. Remember that when photographing with the Buddha, your head should not be higher than the top of his head, as this is considered disrespectful in Buddhism.

b. Take a photo of hugging the Buddha’s foot, symbolizing a Chinese saying that someone doesn’t work hard at ordinary times but crams at the last minute.

Climb back and move to Lingyun Temple. The Haitong Master, who once practiced in this temple, initiated the construction of the Leshan Giant Buddha in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). After visiting the Great Buddha’s Hall and witnessing numerous people praying for good luck, continue to a viewing platform to overlook the confluence of three rivers. Next, appreciate the Lingbao Pagoda from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) on the way downhill, and we will have a short break. Although lunch is at your own expense, you can ask the guide to suggest local restaurants and assist you with your order. If you’re not a chili lover, a vegetarian restaurant with a mild taste nearby is worth trying.

► For your information:

1. When the plank road leading to the Buddha’s feet requires a 1- to 2-hour queue due to tourism influx or is closed due to poor weather, we can also guide you to take a cruise as an alternative if you prefer a relaxing tour to enjoy the panoramic view.

2. There are dozens of sightseeing sites in the scenic area, especially the Mahao Cliff Tombs, which comprise 544 tombs of the Han Dynasty (202-220) on a 255-yard-long and 27-yard-wide cliff, resembling honeycombs for their dense distribution. If time permits, we can also pay a visit after downhill.

In the afternoon, we will drive for approximately 1.5 hours to Huanglongxi Ancient Town, which dates back to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-24 AD), over 1,700 years ago. Famed for ancient streets, trees, temples, quays, and dwellings, the town combines the rustic charm of western Sichuan with the vivid water village style as the Huanglong Stream flows through. Strolling along the well-preserved stone pavements from the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911), appreciating Gulong Temple, Zhenjiang Temple, and Chaoyin Temple, accompanied by 76 wooden stilt residences, six luxuriant 300-year-old towering banyan trees, and several rotating traditional waterwheels, you will feel as if you are in the scene of a Chinese period movie. As we walk through the town and reach its outskirts, you may dimly glimpse the famous Guanyin Temple and Dafo Temple, situated on the opposite cliff of the mountains, the latter nicknamed the Little Leshan Giant Buddha.

During the visit, you may notice ubiquitous teahouses and many locals turning themselves loose there. Yes, Huanglongxi Ancient Town is famous for its “nine teahouses in ten households” because it was once a crucial transition on the eastern line of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, where tea from western Sichuan was transported by river to Yunnan and Tibet. Thus, the town developed its own distinctive teahouse culture, characterized by bamboo chairs, Gaiwan (a Chinese lidded bowl without a handle used for tea consumption), Kung Fu tea served from a long-mouthed copper kettle, and enjoying Sichuan opera face-changing performances while savoring the tea. If you’re looking for unique souvenirs, tea leaves from western Sichuan are an excellent choice.

► A Bite of Huanglongxi Ancient Town (at your own expense)

Among dozens of delicacies here, like silky-smooth tofu pudding, glutinous sesame cake, mung bean jelly drenched in various seasonings, and braised local catfish, it’s recommended to try an intangible cultural heritage dish called One Continuous Noodle, one portion with only one noodle stretching for meters, served with spicy toppings or savory broth. Meanwhile, feast your eyes on the chef’s noodle-shaking movements, which combine martial arts and dance, accompanied by contagious music, drawing a perfect end to today’s journey.

Average Cost per Person: CNY 20 (USD 3)

Finally, the guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel in downtown Chengdu. Wish you a cheerful trip with us!